Spatula cleaner



June 21, 1960 c, HERcER 2,941,224

SPATULA CLEANER Filed Sept. 18, 1957 Clem J. Hercer INVENTOR.

SPATULA CLEANER Clem J. Hercer, Corona, Calif, assignor of fifty percent to Jesse H. Clark, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Sept. 18-, 1957, set. No. 684,809

'3 Claims. (Cl. 15-11 This invention relates generally to cleaners for blades, and more specifically to a spatula cleaner for use in conjunction with a grill, or the like.

When the cook is tending a grill, hard particles of food adhere to the broad surfaces of the cooks spatula, after scraping or cleaning the cooking surface of a grill. These particles also adhere in quantity to the outer portion of the spatula surfaces due to certain cooking processes, and they are of a hard substance and difiicult to remove conveniently, or quickly by conventional methods. Therefore, the primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved type of spatula cleaner, wherein the excess liquid or grease will be wiped from the spatula while the scraping or cleaning action takes place.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spatula cleaner, which may be quickly and easily attached to a grill, and detached for easy cleaning of the parts thereof.

Further objects of this invention reside in its simple construction, inexpensive cost of production, and ease of use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the spatula cleaner comprising the present invention, illustrating the cleaner as attached to a grill;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the details of construction of the spatula; and

Figure 3 is a perspective enlarged view of one of the blades used for scraping the spatula clean.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the spatula cleaner comprising the present invention. Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it may be seen that the cleaner comprises a body which is of generally C-shaped construction, and having an upper leg 12 a bight portion 14, and a lower leg 16.

At the lower edge of leg 16 is an outwardly projecting flange 18. Attached to the upper surface of flange 18 is an angle member 20, which has a short vertical leg 22 for engagement with the top of a grill. This angle member 20 has a vertical opening 24 therethrough, which accommodates a ring bolt 26 having threads on the ends of the shank thereof designated by numeral 28.

-In the undersurface of leg 12 is formed a channeled slot 30, which accommodates a pad of material 32, which may be felt or any other similar type of material. A similar channel slot 34 is formed in the upper surface of leg 16, and in alignment with slot 30. A pad 36 is inserted into slot 34, which is similar to pad 32. The pads 32 and 36 are in opposing, contacting relation.

At the lower end of leg 12 is a laterally extending portion 38, and a similar extension 40 projects outwardly from the upper end of leg 12, and in alignment with the 2,941,224 Patented June 21,. 1960 first extension 38. Horizontal'slots 42 and 44 are'formed in the outer surfacesof extensions 38 and 40 respectively. Blades 46 and 48 are inserted into slots 42 and 44 respect'i'vely, and these blades are bent so as to extend outwardly from the body portion, and inwardly toward each other, so that their'outer ends are in contacting relation.

In use, the bolt 26 would be threaded into an opening 50 having threads on the inner surface thereof, of a grill 52. This would secure the spatula cleaner to a grill. When itlis desired to clean a spatula, it is merely necessary to pass the blade'of the spatula between pads 32 and 36, thus eliminating the excess liquid and grease and between the contacting edges of blades 46 and 48, whereby bread and hard food particles, will be scraped from the broad surfaces of the spatula.

It is to be noted that blades 46 and 48 may be taken out of slots 42 and 44 by sliding them longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and may be replaced by other blades, when they are worn out. Likewise, pads 32 and 36 may be longitudinally slid from their respective slots 30 and 34, so that they maybe replaced when worn out.

It may thus be seen that I have invented a new and improved type of spatula cleaner which removes excess liquid and grease before beginning its scraping action.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spatula cleaner comprising a rigid C-shaped body of low vertical height including an upper leg, a lower leg, and a bight portion connecting said legs at one end and maintaining them in slightly spaced relation whereby a slot is formed between the opposing legs, confronting slots formed in the opposing surfaces of the legs and extending the full length of the legs from the free ends thereof up to the bight portion, pads removably positioned in said slots and extending the full length thereof, said pads being of a height to extend outwardly of said slots toward each other and to abut along a plane medially intermediate the opposing leg surfaces, longitudinal ribs extending from each of said legs and having longitudinal notches extending along the outer sides of said ribs remote from said legs, a resilient scraping Iblade removably positioned in each of said notches and converging outwardly to a plane of contact at their outer ends, the plane of contact of said blades and the medial plane along which said pads abut being in alignment for allowing the passage of a spatula blade therebetween, said blades having heel portions which project into said notches and which are parallel to the plane of contact of said blades.

2. A spatula cleaner comprising a rigid O-shaped body of low vertical height including an upper leg, a lower leg, and a bight portion connecting said legs at one end and maintaining them in slightly spaced relation whereby a slot is formed between the opposing legs, confront-- ing slots formed in the opposing surfaces of the legs and extending the full length of the legs from the free ends thereof up to the bight portion, pads removably positioned in said slots and extending the full length thereof, said pads being of a height to extend outwardly of said slots toward each other and to abut along a plane medially intermediate the opposing leg surfaces, longitudinal ribs extending from each of said legs and having longitudinal notches extending along the outer sides of said ribs remote from said legs, a resilient scraping blade verging outwardly to a planeof contact at their outer ends, the plane of contact of said blades and the medial plane along which said pads abutbeing in alignment for allowing the'pas'sage of a spatula blade therebetween, said blades 'having iheel portions which. project into said notches and which are parallel to the 'plane o'fcontact of said blades, 21 Jflange projecting outwardly from the lower portion ofsaid lower leg ina direction opposite to that in which said ribs project, means for clamping said flange to a grill. 7

' 3. A spatula cleaner fcomprising a generally Q-shaped rigid body of low vertical height'having .an upper and a lower longitudinally extending leg, sai'd legs 'being slightly spaced apart and connected by a'bight portion atone end thereof definingka slot narrow therebetween, a pad removably secured to each of the confronting surfaces of said legs extending the fulllength thereof and projecting towards each other with their confronting surfaces in 4 v I abutting relation, a resilient outwardly projecting scraping blade extending substantially the entire length of, and removably secured to each of said legs with the free portions thereof inclined towards each other and being resiliently urged together with the outer ends in contacting relation and with the point of contact thereof in alignment with the point of contact between the confronting surfaces of said pads, including means removably securing said cleaner to a work surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Holland Apr. -15, 1946 

